Control for automatic transmission

ABSTRACT

Automatic transmission control in which the manual control level is supported by a mounting assembly for limited turning movement in a longitudinal direction about an axis beneath the vehicle floor adjacent to the transmission to effect a change in transmission operation. The mounting assembly includes a lever carrier that is drivingly connected to a rotatable mounting shaft extending through the sides of a protective support bracket suspending from a floor-mounted baseplate. The lever is also pivotally mounted on the carrier for limited lateral movement to permit disengagement of the lever from positive stops corresponding to different transmission operations. A torquetransmitting lever connected directly to the control-leveroperated mounting shaft is drivingly connected by a linkage to the transmission.

United States Patent Fitzpatrick et al.

[ 5]. Feb. 29, 1972 [54] CONTROL FOR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ren, all ofMich.

[73] Assignee: General Motors Corporation, Detroit,

- Mich.

[22] Filed: Apr. 30, 1970 [211 App]. No.: 33,262

2,964,964 12/1960 Craig ..74/473 Primary Examiner-Milton KaufmanAttorney-W. E. Finken, A. M. Heiter and Charles R. White [57] ABSTRACTAutomatic transmission control in which the manual control level issupported by a mounting assembly for limited turning movement in alongitudinal direction about an axis beneath the vehicle floor adjacentto the transmission to effect a change in transmission operation. Themounting assembly includes a lever carrier that is drivingly connectedto a rotatable mounting shaft extending through the sides of aprotective support bracket suspending from a floor-mounted baseplate.The lever is also pivotally mounted on the carrier for limited lateralmovement to permit disengagement of the lever from positive stopscorresponding to different transmission operations. Atorque-transmitting lever connected directly to thecontrol-lever-operated mounting shaft is drivingly connected by alinkage to the transmission.

5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDFEH 29 I972 SHEET 1 (IF 2' CONTROLFOR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION This invention relates to transmissioncontrols and more particularly to a manual control for an automatictransmission having an improved control lever support and connectingassembly for mounting the lever to the vehicle floor and for operativelyconnecting the lever to the transmission.

Floor-mounted automatic transmission controls used in many modernvehicles are usually located on the floor convenient to the driver andoften in a console on the transmission and propeller shaft tunnel. Thesecontrols effectively utilize space above the tunnel and have beensatisfactory but often have involved complicated and costly mechanismswhich therefore are not generally desirable for employment oneconomy-type vehicles. In such vehicles it is desirable to have a highlyreliable and uncomplicated transmission control which facilitatesmanufacture as well as repair or replacement if needed.

In this invention there is amanually operated transmission control leversupported on a carrier member which is fixed to a mounting .or pivotshaft located adjacent to the transmission. The pivot shaft is mountedinside a protective boxlike support suspended from a floor-mountedbaseplate. One end of the pivot shaft extends from one side of thissupport and carries a forcetransmitting lever operatively connected tothe transmission by suitable linkage for transmission control purposes;the other end of the pivot shaft extends from the support and has screwthreads for a nut that retains the lever and its carrier member on thesupport. The control lever is mounted for limited transverse turningmovement by a pivot connecting the lever to the carrier member so thatthe lever can be moved from engagement with positive stops on abase-supported detent plate. The carrier member also supports a biasingspring, which urges the lever into engagement with one side of thedetent plate having the stops but which allows the transverse pivotalmovement of the lever from engagement with the positive stops so thatthe manual lever can be subsequently turned to change transmissionoperation. The operating lever carrier member also supports a bracketthat has a cover plate secured thereto which covers the detent plate andprevents the entry of foreign matter into the control assembly whileproviding a finished appearance to a transmission control consolesecured to the baseplate.

It is an object and feature of this invention to provide a new andimproved transmission control in which a pivotal mounting shaft connectsa manual lever carrier to a support bracket and drivingly connects themanual lever and carrier to a forcetransmitting mechanism operativelyconnected to an automatic transmission.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedtransmission control in which the control lever carrier constructionconnects the lever to a torque-transmitting shaft for limited rotationtherewith and in which the control lever is pivotally mounted on thecarrier for limited turning movement transverse to the turning movementpermitted by the shaft.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedautomatic transmission control including a transmission control leverwhich is pivotally mounted beneath the vehicle floor with componentsincluding the pivot completely sealed and protected from environmentalconditions outside of the vehicle body.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedautomatic transmission control having: a base mounted on thetransmission and propeller shaft tunnel which includes a downwardlyextending support bracket; a torquetransmitting pivot shaft extendingthrough opposing sides of the support bracket, a lever carrier fixed tothe pivot shaft and to a manually operable lever mounted on the carrierfor limited turning movement with respect to the carrier; and connectingmeans operatively connecting the torque-transmitting pivot shaft withautomatic transmission controls.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent fromthe following detailed description and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a transmission control and anautomatic transmission.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the transmission control similar to FIG. 1 butwith parts in section and is also a view taken along line 22 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a view of the transmission control taken along line 3-3 ofFIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a view taken generally along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

As shown in FIG. 1 there is a hand-operated transmission control shiftlever 10 operatively disposed in the interior of a vehicle and mountedby a support assembly 12 for limited pivotal movement with respect topivot axis 14 beneath the vehicle floor. The control shift lever 10 isdrivingly connected to an outer lever 16 which is turned with respect topivot axis 14 in response to corresponding rotary movement of controllever 10. The outer end of lever 16 is operatively connected by a swivel18 to one end of selector rod 20. This end of the rod has screw threadsto receive adjusting nuts 22 on either side of the head of the swivel.The other end of the selector rod is pivotally connected to a movableselector arm 24 which is secured to a shaft 26 mounted on transmission28. This shaft is operatively connected to conventional automatictransmission controls such as a selector valve not shown.

The vehicle has a floor formed with a tunnel 30 to-accommodatetransmission 28; the tunnel has a top portion 32 with an opening 34through which a boxlike shift-lever mounting bracket 36 projects. Thisbracket has an open upper side with a peripheral flange 38 and issecured to a generally rectangular baseplate 40 which completely coversopening 34 and is fastened to the floor by screws 42.

The bracket has spaced sidewalls 44 having aligned, circular openingsfor receiving a cylindrical torque-transmitting and supporting shaft 46which projects through the sidewalls 44. One end of shaft 46 is securelyattached to the outer lever 16. The shaft 46 is retained on the bracket36 by suitable washers and a nut 48 threaded onto the projecting end ofthe shaft. Antifriction sleeve bearings 50 of nylon or other suitablematerial are employed between shaft 46 and the walls forming theopenings in the sidewalls. Washers 52 are disposed between the lever 16and sidewall 44 to eliminate longitudinal play of shaft 46 afterinstallation in bracket 36.

A shift lever carrier or bracket 54 is secured to shaft 46 for movementtherewith and a suitable cylindrical spacer 55 is disposed on a reducedportion of shaft 46 between bracket 54 and sleeve 50. As shown in FIG.2, the lower portion of bracket 54 is keyed to shaft 46 and is formedwith a lower laterally extending flange 56. A pivot pin 58 extendingthrough flange 56 and the lower portion of control shift lever 10 mountsthe lever to bracket 54 for limited pivotal movement about an axis 57transverse to axis 14 adjacent to the transmission.

Bracket 54 also has an upper laterally extending flange 60 having anelongated and laterally extending slot 62 formed therein through whichcontrol shift lever 10 extends. A coil spring 64 encircling theextending portion of flange 60 is operatively disposed between a springretainer 66 and the control lever 10 to urge the control lever 10 towardthe upstanding portion of bracket 54 as best shown in FIG. 3. Theretainer 66 has a key slot 68 therein which is larger than the outer endof the flange which facilitates installation and removal of spring 64.As shown in FIG. 2 the retainer is locked in position after the endportion 70 has been passed through slot 68 and the retainer has beenrotated 90.

Control lever 10 also passes through a gate 72 of an arched detent plate74 that is secured at each of its ends to the baseplate 40 by front andrear brackets 76 and 78 respectively. The gate has stops 80, 82, 84, 86and 88 to positively locate low, drive, neutral, reverse and parkpositions of the control lever 10 to facilitate transmission operation.The spring biases the lever laterally against the side of the detentplate having the stops 80 through 88. In shifting between predeterminedpositions from reverse to park for example, the control lever 10 isturned on pivot 58 to clear stop 86 and then turned forwardly withrespect to axis 14 until spring 64 urges it into the notch forming stop88.

Brackets 90 and 9.7. fastened by screws 94 extend upwardly and arefastened to a supporting bracket ER). This bracket has an upper plate $3that carries a Zens, not shown, with conventional translucent markingswhich indicate transmission operations such as low, drive, neutral,reverse and park and which are aligned with stops 80 through 38. Asuitable electric lamp 100 may be employed to illuminate the markings ifdesired.

As shown best by FIGS. and 3, pivot pin 58 extending through the flangeS6 of bracket 54 supports an upstanding arm 102 which has a detent coverplate MM secured thereto by screws 106. The detent cover plate extendslaterally over the detent plate and is formed with a circular openingthrough which control lever 10 extends.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 a housing or console 1110 is employed tocover the transmission control support elements described above. Thisconsole is secured to front and rear brackets 112 and 114 extending fromthe baseplate by screws 118. The console has an upper opening 120through which the control lever 10 extends; this opening is sufficientlylarge to permit unencumbered movement of the lever 14) to the differentoperating positions as shown in phantom lines in FIGS. 1 and 2.

As shown, cover plate MM is just below opening 120 to close thisopening. The opening 122 adjacent to opening 120 is a sight openingthrough which the indicia on the lens may be observed.

This invention is not limited to the details of the construction shownand described for purposes of illustrating the invention for othermodifications will occur to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. A transmission control for a transmission comprising an supportingplate mounted on the floor of a vehicle, a support bracket dependingfrom said supporting plate adjacent to said transmission, atorque-transmitting pivot shaft mounted for limited rotation withrespect to a first axis in said support bracket and having opposed endsextending outside of said bracket, connector means for operativelyconnecting one end of the pivot shaft to said transmission, fastenermeans mounted on the other end of said pivot shaft for retaining saidpivot shaft on said support bracket, a control lever carrier secured tosaid pivot shaft for rotation therewith, a control lever, pivot meansfor pivotally mounting said control lever to said carrier so that saidcontrol lever can turn said pivot shaf with respect to said first axisand to mount said lever for turning movement in a transverse directionwith respect to said first axis, a detent plate having a series ofspaced stops thereon, spring means supported on said carrier andcontacting said control lever for urging said control lever laterallyagainst said stops, and slot means in said carrier permitting saidcontrol lever to be moved laterally away from any one of said stops andsubsequently to be moved longitudinally to effect limited rotation ofsaid carrier and said connected control shaft to thereby actuate saidconnecting means and condition said transmission for a predeterminedoperation,

2. The transmission shift control defined in claim 1 and furtherincluding a housing having an opening therein through which saidtransmission control lever extends, fastener means connecting saidhousing to said baseplate, a detent plate cover carried by said carrierand surrounding said transmission control lever for movement therewith,said detent plate cover member to the other of said extensions forturning movement, a baseplate secured to the floor ofa vehicle, asupport bracket having side and end walls suspended from said baseplateand disposed adjacent to said transmission, a shaft mounted for turningmovement in said support bracket adjacent to said transmission,connecting means interiorly of said support bracket for drivinglyconnecting said support for said control member to said shaft, andlinkage means disposed exteriorly of said support bracket for drivinglyconnecting said transmission control member to a transmission.

4. A control for a power transmission in a vehicle comprising a manuallyoperated lever member movable to a plurality of different positions forconditioning the transmission for different predetermined operations, acarrier for said lever member, support means mounting said carrier andsaid lever member for limited movement together about a first axis,pivot means pivotally supporting said lever member on said carrier forlimiting turning movement about a second axis; said support meanscomprising a torque transmitting pivot shaft secured to said carrier forrotatably supporting said carrier and said lever member and fortransmitting a control force to the transmission, a baseplate secured inthe vehicle, and a supporting bracket suspended from said baseplatehaving an opening therethrough, said pivot shaft having a portionextending through said opening; retainer means for retaining said pivotshaft in said bracket, and torque transmitting means operativelyconnecting said pivot shaft to the transmission to enable said levermember to condition the transmission for predetermined operations inresponse to movement of said lever member to predetermined positions.

5. A transmission shift control comprising a manually operated controlmember movable to any one of a plurality of different predeterminedpositions for conditioning a transmission for predetermined operations,a carrier for said control member comprising a main body portion withfirst and second extensions, pivot means securing said control member tosaid first extension of said carrier for limited turning movement withrespect to a first axis, a pivot shaft secured to said carrier forsupporting said carrier and said control member for limited rotationtogether, bracket means for said pivot shaft and said carrier to supportsaid carrier and said control member for limited turning movementtogether with respect to a second axis, retainer means for retainingsaid pivot shaft in said bracket means, connecting means for operativelyconnecting said pivot shaft to a transmission so that predeterminedturning movement of said control member changes transmission operationto a predetermined operation, stop means for retaining said controlmember in any one of said predetermined positions, and yieldable meanssupported by said second extension of said carrier and contacting saidcontroi member for laterally urging said control member into engagementwith said stop means.

1. A transmission control for a transmission comprising an supportingplate mounted on the floor of a vehicle, a support bracket dependingfrom said supporting plate adjacent to said transmission, atorque-transmitting pivot shaft mounted for limited rotation withrespect to a first axis in said support bracket and having opposed endsextending outside of said bracket, connector means for operativelyconnecting one end of the pivot shaft to said transMission, fastenermeans mounted on the other end of said pivot shaft for retaining saidpivot shaft on said support bracket, a control lever carrier secured tosaid pivot shaft for rotation therewith, a control lever, pivot meansfor pivotally mounting said control lever to said carrier so that saidcontrol lever can turn said pivot shaft with respect to said first axisand to mount said lever for turning movement in a transverse directionwith respect to said first axis, a detent plate having a series ofspaced stops thereon, spring means supported on said carrier andcontacting said control lever for urging said control lever laterallyagainst said stops, and slot means in said carrier permitting saidcontrol lever to be moved laterally away from any one of said stops andsubsequently to be moved longitudinally to effect limited rotation ofsaid carrier and said connected control shaft to thereby actuate saidconnecting means and condition said transmission for a predeterminedoperation.
 2. The transmission shift control defined in claim 1 andfurther including a housing having an opening therein through which saidtransmission control lever extends, fastener means connecting saidhousing to said baseplate, a detent plate cover carried by said carrierand surrounding said transmission control lever for movement therewith,said detent plate cover being supported by said carrier immediatelybelow said opening in said housing to thereby block said opening.
 3. Atransmission shift control mounted on the floor of a vehicle comprisinga manually operable control member movable to any one of a plurality ofdifferent positions for conditioning a transmission for differentpredetermined operations, a support for said control member having aside and spaced first and second extensions, one of said extensionshaving a laterally extending slot therein through which said controlmember extends, pivot means mounting said control member to the other ofsaid extensions for turning movement, a baseplate secured to the floorof a vehicle, a support bracket having side and end walls suspended fromsaid baseplate and disposed adjacent to said transmission, a shaftmounted for turning movement in said support bracket adjacent to saidtransmission, connecting means interiorly of said support bracket fordrivingly connecting said support for said control member to said shaft,and linkage means disposed exteriorly of said support bracket fordrivingly connecting said transmission control member to a transmission.4. A control for a power transmission in a vehicle comprising a manuallyoperated lever member movable to a plurality of different positions forconditioning the transmission for different predetermined operations, acarrier for said lever member, support means mounting said carrier andsaid lever member for limited movement together about a first axis,pivot means pivotally supporting said lever member on said carrier forlimiting turning movement about a second axis; said support meanscomprising a torque transmitting pivot shaft secured to said carrier forrotatably supporting said carrier and said lever member and fortransmitting a control force to the transmission, a baseplate secured inthe vehicle, and a supporting bracket suspended from said baseplatehaving an opening therethrough, said pivot shaft having a portionextending through said opening; retainer means for retaining said pivotshaft in said bracket, and torque transmitting means operativelyconnecting said pivot shaft to the transmission to enable said levermember to condition the transmission for predetermined operations inresponse to movement of said lever member to predetermined positions. 5.A transmission shift control comprising a manually operated controlmember movable to any one of a plurality of different predeterminedpositions for conditioning a transmission for predetermined operations,a carrier for said control member comprising a main body portion withfirst and second extensions, pIvot means securing said control member tosaid first extension of said carrier for limited turning movement withrespect to a first axis, a pivot shaft secured to said carrier forsupporting said carrier and said control member for limited rotationtogether, bracket means for said pivot shaft and said carrier to supportsaid carrier and said control member for limited turning movementtogether with respect to a second axis, retainer means for retainingsaid pivot shaft in said bracket means, connecting means for operativelyconnecting said pivot shaft to a transmission so that predeterminedturning movement of said control member changes transmission operationto a predetermined operation, stop means for retaining said controlmember in any one of said predetermined positions, and yieldable meanssupported by said second extension of said carrier and contacting saidcontrol member for laterally urging said control member into engagementwith said stop means.